Ryan took me to Scottsdale for my birthday weekend. It was our first time of traveling that didn’t involve funding. It was so refreshing to spend two days together, relaxing and hanging out. We discovered this coffee shop with THE BEST, and i mean THE BEST, chai tea latte ever. It was so good we went back the next day! I crave it often. (and if you know me well enough, you know i have a lot of random cravings on a daily basis…this one is constant)

As a wedding gift my parents gave Ryan and I a weekend with the  FamilyLife Weekend to Remember marriage conference. It was held at the Star Pass Marriott in Tucson in June. It was a great time. It’s a beautiful resort in Tucson tucked in the mountains to the west of the city. Further west you have the beautiful mountains and gorgeous sunsets, and from the east the city actually looks pretty, especially at night with all the lights. We felt a little young there only being married for 6 months with one couple going on 60 some years of mariage but it was sooo good. The talks and couple discussion times afterward were helpful in Ryan and I setting a good, God-centered foundation for our marriage. Our highlights were the couple discussion times at the end of the day. It was highly encouraged to go as a couple to a private area and talk through certain questions. It provided a sweet opportunity to talk about things that you don’t normally as a couple. I’d love to go to one of these conferences every couple years to reminded of crucial points discussed. God richly blessed our times. It was funny because along with talking about marriage we had our first parenting talk. That was slightly weird. I highly recommend it to married couples.

Glen Eyrie, Navigator Headquarters, Colorado Springs, CO

that’s my husband!!!!!!!!

In June Ryan had Summit for EDGE Corp (like new job orientation) and I had a couple days off in which I flew to CO to be with him and meet the other EDGErs. It was a really good time. Any time at the Glen seems to be good! We met up with our good friends, Tim & Meg, and Kurt & Heather, while there. It was so good, refreshing, encouraging to see them. We played bocce ball with Tim & Meg across the Glen lawn and had a amazing dinner with Kurt & Heather. They are just such sweet dear friends. The Glen is a beautiful place. I love flowers and couldn’t get enough of all the flowers there. I’m grateful that my job allows me to have 3-4 days off in a row where I can take little trips like that. It was definitely tiring though, working 3 nights, flying to Denver right after work with no sleep, being with friends, flying back and working the next 3 nights. Welcome to what my summer was like. Work, funding trip, work. Yet God was gracious to me, giving me energy.

haha. So I tried to make baked brie with brown sugar, almonds and craisins inside. All the recipes I found wanted you to put bread around it but I was trying hard to stick to my gluten-free diet. Welp, I had a pretty dumb moment and didn’t realize that if you bake brie it will melt and run all over your pan…you need the bread to contain the cheese. Woops. Ryan was a great husband and ate it with me. It actually tasted good…just didn’t look like it. It was definitely a pretty funny experience and confirmed the fact that I’m still a novice cook. I should have said yes to helping my mom cook all those times she asked me. Mom’s do know what they’re talking about!

Last thing, I promise.

Ryan and I just got back from vacation in Southern California. It was a first vacation aside from our honeymoon. It was so needed. We enjoyed hanging out with each other on the beach, playing frisbee in the water, getting taken out by the waves, having sand everywhere all the time. We read The Chronicles of Narnia aloud on the beach, got a couple of skin shades darker, ate good food, had sweet times with friends (we spent the afternoon with our dear friend Krista!!!!) and family. We enjoyed just being together, talking deeply and joking around. Oh yeah and we started training for this half marathon we’re running in January (are we crazy…yes i think so). It was a wonderful time, growing closer as husband and wife and as friends.

my grandma

I saw my grandma’s body tonight, helped get it ready for the visitation tomorrow. I’m mixed with so many emotions. I don’t know what to feel or think. I’m numb. I’m in shock. I’m still in denial. She should be stopping by tomorrow to drop of the pants that she fixed for me or to just say hi as she and Mona are walking. I want to be angry, ask why, place blame on someone, but most of I’m full of intense grief and sadness. I love her. She has such a special place in my heart. (It’s hard to put things in past tense when talking about her)

It’s 2am and I can’t sleep so I spent some time in the word. Phrases that keep coming up are “trust in the Lord.” Two people sent me verses with that reference (Psalm 125:2, Isaiah 26) I flipped to Revelation and read through chapter 4-5.

“Each of the flour living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come.

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

“And they sang a new song:

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain and with your blood you purchased men for God from very tribe and language and people and nation. You ahve made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth…

Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

I don’t understand the events that have happened the past three days. But I know this: This is the God I serve. This is the God my grandma is worshiping right now, in complete perfection before HIS throne. He is sovereign. He is good. He is worthy of my praise, even more in my pain is he worthy of praise and glory and honor.

Lord my heart is full of praise to you. I’m grieving, oh so sad but worshiping you. You are good. You are good. You are GOOD. You are Sovereign. You are merciful. You are my King. Be glorifed in my pain, through these tears. Holy holy are you. Here’s my song of praise to you.

Revelation Song - youtube

Revelation Song, Kari Jobe

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, Holy, Holy is He

Sing a new song to him who sits on Heaven’s mercy seat

Holy, Holy, HOly is the Lord God Almighty

Who was and is, and is to come

With all creation I sing, Praise to the King of Kings

You are my everything, And I will adore you

Clothed in rainbows  of living color  Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder

Blessing and honor, strength and  glory and power be  to You the only wise King

Filled with wonder  awestruck wonder  at the mention of your name

Jesus your name is power  breath, and living water  such a marvelous mystery

I just hope I can keep it alive. Supposedly this is what it will look like after 27 years… haha

I’ll post a picture once the structure-thing (I dont’ know what to call it) looks decent

That was my fun for the day. Now to laundry.

A beautiful wedding and wonderful marriage

A great job full of new experiences and lots of learning. And really cute babies!!

Our first home with lots of character…

Decorative throw pillows in their usual spot…on the floor.

lots of reading…or motivation to read

lots of love between husband and wife

hopes for the future: becoming a husband and wife of prayer. This is our “hit list” ie prayer list. Inspiration from my parents, who are huge prayer warriors.